The number of active hunters in the USA has declined in recent years. That’s not good for wildlife management programs, which are supported, in large part, by hunting fees. Perhaps more importantly, the declin in the ranks of hunters weakens the base of support for the Second Amendment. Hunters are key to the future of firearms rights in America. We support efforts to increase the number of hunters, through mentoring and training programs.

The NRA’s American Hunter magazine has compiled a comprehensive list of hunting mentor programs, state by state. This is followed by listing of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide hunter training. If you know individuals looking to get a start in hunting, check out these resources.

State Hunter Mentoring and Training Progams

Alabama | 205-339-5716
• Hunting Programs: outdooralabama.com/hunting

Alaska | 907-267-2534
• Hunter Education: huntereducation.alaska.gov

Arizona | 602-942-3000
• Mentor Camps: azgfd.com/Hunting/MentoredCamps/

Arkansas | 800-364-4263
• Arkansas Outdoors: agfc.com/en/get-involved/first-steps-outdoors/

California | 916-653-1235
• Programs: wildlife.ca.gov/hunter-education
• Apprentice Hunting Licenses: nrm.dfg.ca.gov/ApprenticeHunts/Default.aspx

Colorado | 303-291-7248
• Hunter Outreach: cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/HunterOutreach.aspx

Connecticut | 860-424-3000
• Junior Hunter: ct.gov/deep/JuniorHunter

Delaware | 302-739-9910
• Hunter Ed: dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/HunterEd/Pages/HunterEd.aspx

Florida | 850-488-4676
• Mentor Program: myfwc.com/hunting/safety-education/mentoring/
• Youth Program: myfwc.com/education/outdoor-skills/youth-hunting-program/

Georgia | 706-557-2335
• Mentor Program: georgiawildlife.com/mentor

Idaho | 208-334-3700
• Hunt Passport: idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/passport

Illinois | 217-300-5352
• Learn to Hunt: publish.illinois.edu/hunttrapillinois/
• Apprentice License: dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/pages/apprenticelicense.aspx

Indiana | 317-233-9382
• Hunting: in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2701.htm

Iowa | 515-725-8200
• Learn to Hunt: iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Hunter-Education/Learn-to-Hunt

Kansas | 620-672-5911
• Hunter Recruitment: ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Hunting-Programs/Hunter-Recruitment
• Outdoor Mentors: outdoormentors.org/
• Youth Hunts: ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Special-Hunts-Information

Kentucky | 800-858-1549 Ext. 4475; 502-330-8487
• Hunter’s Legacy Program: fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Hunter%27s-Legacy.aspx
• Field to Fork Program: fw.ky.gov/Pages/FieldtoFork.aspx

Louisiana | 337-948-0255
• Hunting Heritage: wlf.louisiana.gov/louisiana-hunting-heritage-program

Maine | 207-287-8000
• Hunting Licenses: maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/licenses-permits/hunting-license.html

Maryland | 877-620-8DNR (8367)
• Program: dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/hunt_trap/Mentored-Hunt-Program.aspx
• Apprentice Licenses: dnr.maryland.gov/nrp/Pages/About-the-Apprenticeship-Hunting-License.aspx

Massachusetts | 508-398-6305
• Learn to Hunt: mass.gov/service-details/learn-to-hunt-programs

Michigan | 517-284-WILD (9453)
• Program: michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79119_79147_82092—,00.html

Minnesota | 888-MINNDNR (646-6367); 651-296-6157
• Hunt Apprentice: dnr.state.mn.us/safety/apprentice/index.html

Mississippi | 601-432-2400
• Apprentice License: mdwfp.com/license/apprentice-license/

Missouri | 573-751-4115
• Hunter Apprentice: huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/hunter-education-skills-training/apprentice-hunter-program

Montana | 406-444-2535
• Apprentice Hunter Program: fwp.mt.gov/hunting/licenses/all/apprenticeHunter/default.html
• Youth Hunts: fwp.mt.gov/hunting/youthOpportunities.html

Nebraska | 402-471-0641
• Mentored Hunts: outdoornebraska.gov/mentoredhunts/

Nevada | 775-688-1555
• Advanced Hunter Education: ndow.org/Education/Hunter_Ed/Classes/
• Apprentice Hunting Licenses: ndow.org/Apprentice-License-Gives-Beginners-Chance-Experience-Hunting/

New Hampshire | 603-271-3421
• Hunter Apprentice: wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/apprentice.html

New Jersey | 609-292-2965
• Hunt Apprentice License: state.nj.us/dep/fgw/hntlic_apprentice.htm

New Mexico | 888-248-6866
• Hunter Education: wildlife.state.nm.us/education/hunter-education/mentored-youth-hunter/

New York | 518-402-8966
• NY Outdoor: dec.ny.gov/outdoor/52495.html

North Carolina | 919-707-0031
• Hunting Heritage Program: ncwildlife.org/Hunting/Before-the-Hunt/Hunting-Heritage-Program
• Getting a Mentor: ncwildlife.org/Hunting/Before-the-Hunt/Becoming-a-Hunter/Getting-a-Mentor
• Apprentice Permit: ncwildlife.org/Hunting/Before-the-Hunt/Hunting-Heritage-Apprentice-Permit

North Dakota | 701-328-6300
• Apprentice License: gf.nd.gov/licensing/apprentice-license

Ohio | 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543)
• Hunting Basics: wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/hunting-trapping-and-shooting-sports/hunting-and-trapping-basics/

Oklahoma | 405-521-3851
• Hunter Education: wildlifedepartment.com/education

Oregon |800-720-ODFW (6399); 503-947-6000
• Hunting Resources: dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/index.asp

Pennsylvania | 717-787-4250
• Mentored Hunting: pgc.pa.gov/HuntTrap/Hunting/Pages/MentoredHuntingPrograms.aspx

Rhode Island | 401-222-4700
• Youth Hunting: eregulations.com/rhodeisland/hunting/special-youth-paraplegic-hunting-opportunities/

South Carolina | 803-734-3833
• Hunting Licensednr.sc.gov/licenses/genlicense.html

South Dakota | 605-223-7660; 512 389-4800
• Youth Program: gfp.sd.gov/youth-mentored/
• Big-Game Mentor Program: gfpga.sd.gov/hunting/big-game/deer/mentored.aspx

Tennessee | 615-781-6500
• Apprentice Hunting Licenses: tn.gov/twra/hunting/hunter-education.html
• Tennessee Outdoor Youth Summit: tn.gov/twra/stay-connected/tennessee-outdoor-youth-summit.html; 731-415-0641

Texas | 800-792-1112; 512-389-4800: 800-460-5494
• Mentored Hunting Workshops: tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/mentored_hunting_workshops/
• Youth Hunting Program: tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/youth_hunting/tx_youth_hunt_program/;

Utah | 801-538-4700
• Hunter Mentoring: wildlife.utah.gov/hunting-in-utah/1332-utah-hunter-mentoring-program.html

Vermont | 802-828-1000
• Youth Hunting: vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt/youth-hunting/
• Licenses: vtfishandwildlife.com/licenses-and-lotteries/license-center/other-licenses/mentored-hunting-license; 802-828-1190, 802-828-1191

Virginia | 866-721-6911
• dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/apprentice-license/

Washington | 360-902-2200
• Hunting Education: wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered/he_deferral.html

Wisconsin | 888-936-7463
• Hunter Mentor: dnr.wi.gov/education/outdoorSkills/mentor.html

Wyoming | 307-777-4542; 307-777-4538
• Hunter Mentor: wgfd.wyo.gov/Education/Hunter-Mentor-Program

Non-Governmental Organizations

National Rife Assocaition (NRA)
• Youth Hunter Education Camp (YHEC): yhec.nra.org/; 800-492-4868
• NRA Online Hunter Education Course (NRAHE): nra.yourlearningportal.com/Course/HuntersEdActivityInfoPage

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
• uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/bow/Pages/default.aspx; 1-877-BOWOMAN (269-6626)

Camp Compass
• campcompass.org; 610-295-5567

Delta Waterfowl
• deltawaterfowl.org/mentor/; 888-987-3695

Ducks Unlimited
• ducks.org/get-involved/youth-programs; 800-45DUCKS (453-8257), 901-758-3825

Families Afield
• familiesafield.org; 800-392-8683

Fathers in the Field
• fathersinthefield.com; 844-ISAIAH1 (472-4241)

Freedom Hunters
• freedomhunters.org; 303-884-0059

Honored American Veterans Afield
• honoredveterans.org

Hope for the Warriors
• hopeforthewarriors.org; 877-2HOPE4W (246-7349)

National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)
• letsgohunting.org/plusonemovement; 203-426-1320

National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)
• nwtf.org/about/hunting-heritage; 800-THE-NWTF (843-6983), 803-637-3106

Pass It On! Outdoor Mentors
• outdoormentors.org; 316-290-8883

Pheasants Forever
• pheasantsforever.org/Youth/Youth-Mentored-Hunts.aspx; 877-773-2070, 651-773-2000

Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA)
• qdma.com/recruit; 800-209-DEER (3337)

Quail Forever
• quailforever.org/Youth/Youth-Mentored-Hunts.aspx; 866-457-8245; 651-209-4981

Operation Pay It Forward
• opif4ourvets.org

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF)
• rmef.org/Conservation/HuntingHeritagePrograms.aspx; 800-225-5355 Ext. 264

Shoot Like a Girl
• shootlikeagirl.com

Sisterhood of the Outdoors
• sisterhoodoutdoors.com; 706-847-6338

Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation
• wwiaf.org; 813-938-1390

In addition, SCI has contracted an additional 250,000 square feet for meeting and ballroom space to support all other SCI-related functions. This enables SCI to house every event under one roof including evening dinner and auction, day time auction, and special banquets. So far, it looks like the 40th Annual SCI show will be the biggest and best ever. SCI member registrations are 20% ahead of 2011’s convention to date and SCI expects 15% more exhibitors than ever before. If you’re an avid hunter, definitely mark your calendar for the SCI Convention in February.

SCI Convention Keynote speakers and evening entertainers include NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and musicians Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Brit Beat, and Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.

CLICK HERE for Interactive SCI Show MAP | CLICK HERE for SCI Convention Planning Sheet (PDF)